Back to: Tracers & Tracing
Remote Frame Tracing:
Another option available under the finishing umbrella is remote frame tracing. Remote tracers are purchased outright, leased, or provided by a lab in exchange for the work they provide. A remote tracer is just that, you have only the tracer portion of an edger system in your store and you trace frames and send the data to a lab online. Among many advantages remote tracing provides is the ability to provide the lab with accurate frame data while the patient is able to continue wearing his or her frame until the new lenses arrive. New lenses arrive already cut to shape and all you have to do is swap them out. Some edgers can work as remote tracers.
Just be sure that you know how to calibrate the tracing unit to assure proper fit. The lenses you get will only be as good as the trace you send out.
Santinelli’s LT 1000 Tracer
Frame Tracing Memory
Any good edger will have the ability to trace a frame and store the trace data. This means that a customer does not have to do without their glasses while their new lenses are being made.
- Write up complete new order
- Take order form (or print out) and the customer’s glasses and go to the edger
- Remove lenses from frame
- Enter all the job parameters and trace the frame
- Save job to edger memory
- Reassemble glasses
- Return glasses to customer
When the uncut lenses arrive from your wholesale lab simply pull up the job from memory and cut the lenses. Call the customer and when they stop by it takes just a few minutes to swap out the old lenses for the new ones.
Note: I am not a fan of memory tracing! If you can avoid it, don’t do it. Every time you take a pair of glasses apart you can run in to trouble. Why do it more than you have to? This is especially true when dealing with older plastic frames which are bound to break with repeated lens insertion and removal.
Unless you work alone you may also find that your co-workers may not complete the data entry or they may use the memory function as a way to pass off work.
If you do a memory trace be sure you note the Memory #, enter ALL your job parameters and that you trace the lens shape on the order form!
Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Changing Tracer Data
Even some of the more basic edgers allow you to “tweak” the B measurement of a trace. This is hardly high-end artistry but it does set you apart from others. Using the edger you can add or subtract to the overall depth of a semi-rimless or full-rimless frame. In a semi-rimless you just need to add or subtract some mounting cord length.
Let’s say Mr. Goldstein finds a semi-rimless frame and says, “That shape is almost perfect but, if it were just a tiny little bit more of a rectangle I’d be happier. I’m getting just a little cheek touch that I know will get annoying.”
You talk with Mr. Goldstein and agree that about 1.5mm would be enough. You take the frame in lab, trace the lens shape, tweak the B down 1.5mm and run a test lens in a basic plastic demo, reassemble and let him OK the work. He says, “Yes!” You say, “Great!”